Few knew that this powerhouse of dedication had also suffered from diabetes since she was a young woman.

Last spring, Frances died suddenly from complications of surgery and diabetes. In her memory, we have initiated a fund through the Marin General Hospital Foundation.

Could you or a family member be among the 6.2 million people in the United States who also have diabetes? We've all heard about diabetes in the news as well as the rising incidence of obesity, which is one of its causes. You probably know someone who is on insulin or self-monitors his or her blood sugar with a small, simple device. But most people don't know that diabetes is usually silent for many years before it is diagnosed and that delay can begin the serious complications of the disease.

Diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be controlled if properly treated. People with diabetes can then lead active, normal lives. If not treated, the results can be debilitating and even fatal - ranging from blindness to loss of limbs, stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. There is also evidence that diabetes can be prevented or reversed by simple life style changes in nutrition and exercise habits.
Diabetes develops when you can't properly use the energy from the food that you eat. There are two types. The most common accounts for about 90 percent of cases and is called Type II diabetes. It occurs in both young and old and is on a steep rise in the United States and worldwide. In this type, the body can't use insulin, the hormone made by the pancreas that allows energy in the form of glucose to flow into the cells for fuel.

You may be at risk for Type II diabetes if you are over 40, have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, are overweight or sedentary, have a history of diabetes in pregnancy or a large birth-weight baby, or have a family member with the disease. The most common symptoms are:

n Increased thirst, hunger, and urination.

n Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.

N Feeling tired most of the time.

n Blurred vision.

n Slow healing of cuts or sores.

n Sudden unplanned weight loss.

It usually just takes a simple blood test to diagnose diabetes. Some patients require pills, some need insulin and all can improve their disease through self-management tools such as diet, exercise and self-monitoring of blood sugar levels.

When people diabetes such as Frances are hospitalized - for a diabetes-related illness or another medical problem - they are at higher risk for complications and need additional medical management. In the new Marin General Diabetes Care Program, "Keys to Control," staff and physicians work closely with patients to assure they receive special protocols. Our goal is to improve medical outcomes for patients with diabetes through treatment and education.

Don't wait until you are ill or hospitalized to learn about diabetes. Talk to your doctor or health provider and visit the American Diabetes Association Web site at www.diabetes.org.

Do it for Frances - do it for yourself.

To donate to the Frances Zolfaghari Memorial Diabetes Fund, contact Frank Malifrando at the Marin General Hospital Foundation at 492-4730.

Linda Gaudiani, M.D., is medical director of the Marin General Hospital Diabetes Care Program. She is an endocrinologist in private practice at Marin Endocrine Care and Research and is associate clinical professor at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine. She is a Marin resident.

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